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N/Pilot sets agenda for new Kwara commissioners

 

…level 10 admin officer gets Mines & Industry portfolio

… level does not count, we received Alhassan as comm with delight –Perm Sec

*Appointment not for self promotion – Gov Ahmed warns

With a year to the expiration of the tenure of Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the state changed his guard yesterday with the swearing-in of new commissioners to run affairs of the 19 ministries. To help the commissioner deliver on their mandate, National Pilot looks at the challenges in various ministries and proffer possible solutions. 

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development (Alhaja Bilikis Oniyangi): Despite the commendable efforts of the immediate past commissioner, Engr Musa Ayinla Yeketi and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajia Maryam Garuba, there are still a lot to do in improving the standard of education in the state.

Findings by this medium revealed that several classrooms in public primary and secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state need urgent facelift. Though the state government is said to have acceded to this need, it is however incumbent on the new commissioner to ensure prompt release of the fund needed for the enormous project.

In addition, Hajia Balikis Oniyanyi will also need to attend to the issue of uneven distribution of teachers across public schools in the state. There have been inundated complaints of inadequate teachers in rural community schools while on the other hand, schools in the urban settlement tend to be overpopulated with teaching and non-teaching staff. A few of those rural schools presently have only one teacher who takes all subjects in addition to his management role.

The new commissioner will need to create a balance through redistribution and deployment of teachers in partnership with the state Teaching Service Commission.

Also, the new commissioner must improve on the success recorded by her predecessor in area of closure of unregistered schools and ‘miracle examination centres’ in the state through the deployment of officials of the Quality Assurance Bureau (QAB).

Other areas the new boss of the ministry will have to attend to is how to ensure sustenance of the remarkable results recorded by the state last year, in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science & Technology (Barr. Abdullahi Alikinla): Top on the list of issues to be addressed by the new commissioner is the backlog of salaries owed employees of Colleges of Education in the state. As a result of salary arrears, staff of Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin, Oro and Lafiagi have at one time or the other embarked on industrial action. Barr. Alikinla will need to meet with the management of government owned institutions with a view to boosting their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Also to be addressed by the new commissioner is the overcrowding of lecture rooms in tertiary institutions.  In order to make up for the shortfall in the quarterly intervention of the state government to those institutions, the management of the schools consistently admit students more than their capacity thereby over populating the classes.

In the same vein, Alikinla must address infrastructure deficit in some of those schools including provision of more hostels for students on campus.

Also, the new commissioner will do well by providing more buses to address transportation problem often faced by off campus students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

Ministry of Information (Mallam Ishak Mohammed Sabi): The new commissioner, Mallam Sabi must ensure the current reposition plan of the state government for its print and electronic media are carried out to specification.

At the moment, a lot of funds have been committed towards the exercise but it is incumbent on the new leadership of the information ministry to ensure the maintenance of the equipment and more importantly the workforce must be well trained for better output.

For now, Radio Kwara and Kwara Television appeared the biggest beneficiaries improved reception and clearer pictures but nothing much has been achieved in the aspect of contents of both state-owned electronic media.

The Herald which used to be the leading newspaper in the country more than ever need serious rejuvenation in terms of manpower, outlook and editorial content. To reposition the newspaper, the state government will need to commit resources into tools and manpower training.

More importantly, the commissioner must ensure that only well trained and expressive media practitioners are posted to various ministries as Press Secretary. By so doing, the issue of backbreaking efforts of journalists to get information and consistently report activities of the state government would have been nipped in the bud.

Ministry of Justice (Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN): The state government appeared to be winning the war against cultism following the pronouncement of 10 years imprisonment without option of fine as penalty for cultists.

However following recent serial killings by cultists in the state, it is expected that Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade on his return to office will review the existing law or find a moral ground to instil civility in the society.

Another area of concern Ajibade is expected to tackle headlong is the issue of ritual killings. With the prevalence of the act, the Kwara State House of Assembly passed a bill to curb killings, kidnapping, exhuming of corps and sales of human parts but despite that, the dastard act continued unabatedly. It is however expected of the new commissioner to find a way around this.

Also, in the area of judges’ remuneration, the Attorney General will need to mediate between members of the judiciary and the state government to address the former’s plight.

It will be recalled that last November, the issues got to a head when judges under the auspices of Magistrate Association of Nigeria (MAN) threatened to go on strike if their working conditions were not improved upon. As Ajibade is making a return to the ministry, there is high expectation that on him to facilitate a means in which lower cadre of the bench are happy.

Another aspect the commissioner is expected to focus on upon resumption is the inadequate facilities in the judiciary. The members of the bench especially those at the magistrate share courtrooms on daily basis in order to attend to their cases. No fewer than three to four magistrates share one court. This process has affected greatly court proceedings. To worsen the matter, the conditions of those courtrooms are deplorable.

Culture and Tourism (Dr Aminat  Ahmed): Kwara is a state with great prospects when it comes to tourism.  It is endowed with many tourists’ destinations with historic significance. Despite this, it is yet to achieve a thriving tourism sector and full capacity to boost the state’s revenue significantly. There are several tourism potentials which are yet to be fully harnessed.

If we get it right, tourism will become a viable sector for job creation, attraction for foreign investment and boost pride in the state’s cultural heritage.

The areas the new commissioner should look into is poor road network,  which hinders free movement to some of these tourist sites such as the roads leading to Owu-Isin waterfall in Isin Local Government Area of the state and the Patigi Regatta in Patigi Local Government to mention but a few. The commissioner should also see to the proper management of the tourist centres. Also there is the need to create awareness about the tourist attractions to boost patronage and updated data for proper planning in order to improve the sector.

The state can also boast of indigenous arts and culture which needs to be showcased to the world, hence the need for exhibitions towards this end. In addition,  it is pertinent that staffers of the ministry are avail the opportunity of training and capacity building programmes for better understanding of tourism for development of the sector.

It is also incumbent on the new commissioner to ensure the facelift the state Arts Council structure at Geri-Alimi  and to ensure the facility is consistently put into use in the area of cinema shows, stage performances and other attractions to enjoy patronage of the public. Through this, the Ministry will be able to generate revenue which could be used to fund many of its programmes without having to rely on government’s fund at all time.

Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (Mallam Habeeb Saidu): As the name implies the ministry is saddled with matters affecting local government, its administration as well as issues relating to chieftaincy titles in the state.

One of the challenges that the new commissioner should address promptly is the issue of salary arrears of local government workers in the state. The commissioner must look for ways of defraying the salary owed the affected workers and ensure that they are paid fully their monthly take home as and when due.

The issue of redundant workers at local government should also be looked into with a view to making them productive for development of the councils.

The new administration at the ministry should also ensure that financial wastages are plugged at the local government level. This can be achieved through monitoring of activities of all councils; coordination of the statutory allocation to local government councils.

The ministry should also ensure welfare of all traditional rulers in the state through upward review of their salaries particularly those who are in the lower rung of classification in the state.

Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (Hajia Taibat Ayinke Ahmed): This is a ministry charged with responsibility of promoting the general welfare of women and enhancing their ability to realise their full potentials in various fields of human endeavours, as well as providing an enabling environment that will ensure the development of the potentials of the child.

One of the problems the new commissioner will battle is the street beggars, mentally deranged and destitute that have staged a comeback and can be found almost everywhere within the metropolis. The ministry must ensure prompt evacuation of these categories of people to bring about sanity in the society.

The commissioner also has to tackle headlong the problem of child trafficking and molestation in the state. The ministry must work with relevant agencies to fight this social menace to a standstill. There must be policies for the development of people living with disabilities.

The commissioner should fashion out ways at improving the fortunes of women in the state regardless of their social, political or religious affiliations for economic empowerment.

Ministry of Health (Alhaji Usman Rifun): For efficient and effective service delivery in the health sector of the state, there is the urgent need for the newly appointed commissioner to address the problem of inadequate personnel and equipment.  Most of the state-owned health facilities are not adequately staffed and equipped. There are some hospitals particularly in the rural areas that are begging for renovation.

There is also the problem of incessant strike by health workers over welfarism. Rifun must ensure that this problem becomes a thing of the past by addressing the agitations of the affected health workers with view to finding lasting solution to it and for productivity in the sector.

It is incumbent on the ministry to develop and implement appropriate policies and programmes that will strengthen the state health system to be able to effectively deliver qualitative, affordable, acceptable and accessible health care services.

Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development (Hon Muyideen Alalade): The new Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Hon Muyideen Alalade should as a matter of urgency attend to the indoor sports hall of the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin which is presently in decrepit state. The renovation of the facility was said to have been awarded to the tune of N925.8million in 2017 under the immediate past commissioner, Alhaji Nuhu Kale Ayo but it is yet to see the light of the day.

Also, Alalade must restore the perimeter fence and the multi-million naira electronic scoreboard inside the main bowl of the stadium which was badly damaged by a recent rainstorm.

The new commissioner must also organise many grassroots tournaments to discover budding talents in various sports.

More importantly, he must scale up the welfare of Kwara athletes who are presently being paid ‘peanuts’ compared to their colleagues from other states. Many of the state’s athletes are consistently poached while the ‘left over’ skip many national and international tournaments for lack of funds.

The new commissioner must seek alternate funding for his ministry aside subvention from the state government. He must also sought sponsorship for state darling teams Kwara United and Kwara Falcons in order to ensure better representation in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Kwese Basketball League.

In addition, Alalade should design a template to revive the Kwara Football Academy (KFA), Ilorin in such a way that the college will be self-sustaining.

Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development (Alhaji Wasiu Odewale): The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development which is saddled with the mandate of implementing vibrant policies for economic advancement is faced with the challenge of inaccurate statistical data.

On his return, the Commissioner with the approval of the state Governor will need to constitute a think-tank team to advise the executive on issues of economic development.

Odewale will need to perfect and improve the synergy the ministry entered with some international organisations on economic growth in order to reposition the state.

The ministry step up its coordination of the partnership and activities of all externally supported programmes such as UNICEF, Word Bank Assisted Projects, DFID and ESSPIN among others.

The commissioner should advise the governor more on areas where national planning objectives and priorities are being seriously trampled upon across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

Ministry of Energy (Mr Taiwo Eleja): Many communities especially in the rural areas of the state are still in darkness, it is incumbent on the new commissioner to ensure more communities in the state are connected to national grid for socio-economic advancement.

Also, Eleja should ensure provision of new transformers for some communities who have been thrown into blackout for several weeks and months due to faulty transformer thereby paralysing business activities in the area.

The solar powered street lights in the state under the IFK arrangement is laudable but the commissioner must ensure even spread of those street lights across the three senatorial districts of Kwara after the completion of the pilot scheme. The ministry must also ensure adequate protection/security for the already installed solar power poles to avoid being vandalised.

Also, the ministry should come up with pragmatic energy summit to attract private sector-led investment in the sector.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (Hon. Suajudeen Akanbi): Housing deficit has been an age long challenge in the state. The onus is on the newly appointed commissioner to find solution to this perennial problem, and this can be achieved Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for housings scheme.  There is also the need for the ministry to ensure that the Ilorin Master plan is realised through the enforcement of existing town planning laws as this will go a long way to prevent indiscriminate construction of building. As observed some areas within the state capital such as Kangu, Gaa-Akanbi, Ita- Elepa and Gaa-Odota to mention but a few, are faced with ecological problems as a result of lack of proper layout.

It is incumbent on the ministry to facility the renovation of government owned public buildings that are in bad shape

Ministry of Works and Transport( Alhaji Aro Yahaya): The Commissioner for Works and Transport is no doubt in a familiar terrain after served in the capacity before the dissolution of cabinet early this year. It is therefore expected that he will ensure that the Geri Alimi diamond split underpass is delivered as and when due and to specialisation. Anoher major area the commissioner will need to focus is the rehabilitation of roads within and outside the state capital. There are many roads in the agrarian parts of the state that should also be considered for construction to help farmers with the transportation of the goods to market.

The problem of illegal parks has persisted, it is high time this issue is dealt with given its ugly consequences. The ministry will need to collaborate with various transport unions, stakeholders and security agencies to stall this social challenge.

Also the Commissioner should ensure that all the three senatorial zones in the state have functional fire service units. Major markets in the state too should be provded with such units to forestall fire outbreak.

Ministry of Finance(Alhaji Demola Banu): The Finance commissioner must unveil new policy direction to shape the state’s economy. These policies should be such that  will further reduce financial wastages. The ministry must ensure proper management of state financial resources. It must ensure finance mobilisation to meet government commitment in relations to finances.

In the last lap of the present administration must put in place efficient and effective administrative administrative policies and ensure strict adherence to budgetary provisions for Ministries Departments and Agencies(MDAs).The ministry must as well ensure best practices in public procurement.

Ministry of Commence and Cooperative (Mr.Agboola Julius Babatunde): The Commissioner should first focus on reorganising of the various markets in the state. Market within Ilorin metropolis should be arranged according to their products/ services they render. For instance there should be computer village/ electronic market, mechanic market, car sells, commodities /perishable goods, abattoir among others.

The ministry should promote export activities in the state. The Commissioner should partner with Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in identifying local commodities like soybeans, melon, rubber, timber, cocoa, etcetera  to assist farmers in exporting them to the countries in ned of the products.

In order to boost activities of the  Medium Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, the commissioner should ensure further empowerment of artisans, entrepreneurs, enterprises in the state through disbursement of loans from the state government as well as facilitate  Federal Government loans  through the Central Bank for them.

It is incumbent on him to make reality the international border market at Chikanda, Baruten Local Government of the state.

Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Hon Bamidele Adegoke): The commissioner during his second coming  must revisit the abandoned farms like the Malete Youth Farm  in Moro Local Government Area with the aim of resuscitating it given its benefits in the area of training, job opportunities and food production. The commissioner is expected to address the problem of deficit of tractors in the state to help farmers productivities and encourage large scale mechanised farming.  Lack of storage facility is another problem the commissioner has to look into; there should be provision of silos to prevent the wastage of farm produces and better preservation.

Ministry of Water Resources (Alhaji Yusuf Abdulkadir): An area the commissioner is expected  to attend to as a matter of urgency is water reticulation. Billion of naira was earmarked to fund this project, but till now, it’s yet to be completed. It is believed that once this is achieved, the eke idea of dispensing water through tankers will come to an end. There is also an urgent need to revamp water works and dams across the state. Many of these dams are not supplying water to capacity.

Ministry of Environment and Forestry(Mr. Amos Justus Sayo): There is the need for the ministry to intensify efforts on the clean and green programme. The scheme has to better coordinated to achieve the desired result. The commissioner must also ensure strict enforcement against roadside trading within Ilorin metropolis particularly at the Post Office area

The ministry also need to pay attention to afforestation through massive trees  planting in the 16 local governments. The commissioner must ensure strict law enforcement against deforestation and check the indiscriminate felling of trees.

Ministry of Industries and Solid Minerals (Mallam Ahmed Alhassan): The state is endowed with different types of mineral resources and the administration has a lot to harness it for economic gains. However, illegal mining has been a recurring decimal, which government must take stringent action against. There is also the need to invite investors to invest in the sector.

IN the area of industry, the commissioner must facilitate enabling environment for manufacturing companies to thrive.

 

 

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